It is easy
to assume that we teach gratitude when we give a child something and then teach
them to say “thank you.” I am all about
teaching children to say thank you for gifts, to make that call to Grandma, to
give a hug, or to send a handwritten thank you note.

However, such instruction teaches children
how to behave gratefully; it does not
necessarily accomplish gratitude as a life skill.

The way to
teach gratitude is to offer your child an opportunity to give.

When we receive
things we are temporarily happy, but gifts work like television ads – they can
make children feel needy. Children want to feel that gift-getting-joy, again
and advertisements show them new gifts that they might “need.”

When children
get the opportunity to give, they are activating the empathy centers of the
brain.

For instance, when children give a pair of socks to the People City
Mission, they begin to think about how good it feels to put on a new pair of
socks. Then they can imagine someone else wearing the socks they are giving.
This works to remind them of what they have.

Practicing empathy promotes gratitude.

I love how
God designed our brains!

The world
gives many messages of what it things our children NEED. With God’s help we can
help them to feel gratitude for what they HAVE.

Tuesday, January 5, 2016

You may have
seen this young lady on the TV show Shark Tank. This is her Kickstarter video.

I
am posting it here because the clip shows us several great uses for technology
and gives us an opportunity to evaluate how technology is used in our families.

Here is what
I like:

Technology
is used as a tool. This is technology at its best when it is serving a purpose other
than entertainment. Too much screen time can lead to problems such as obesity.
When we remember that technology is a tool to help us learn, or
solve, or design, then it is easier to keep screen time in check.

Technology is used to improve empathy. One of the downsides to spending hours playing
violent games is that empathy development takes a hit. Children who play
violent games can be less likely to care about other people. This may not be a
problem for every child, however, each hour spent with a game is one hour not
spent with a friend, sibling or parent.

Technology is used for problem solving. In a school system that values high stakes
testing children do not do as much problem solving. They tend to do more
problem answering and thatis just not the
same. Technology can be used to help a child find a problem to be solved,
research possible solutions, and arrive at answers.

Spend some
time talking with your spouse and children about technology use in your home. Keep track of
how often the computer, tablet, or phone is used as a tool and how often it is
used as entertainment.